NEW HOME, SAME MISSION

Set to move onto the third floor of the Christine E. Lynn University Center, the Social Impact Lab looks to forge a bright future alongside their contingent of changemaking students.

The Social Impact Lab will be part of the more than 10,000-square-foot level that will include co-working and co-creation spaces where the local community and campus can partner to develop change on a large scale.By offering a broadened space for addressing local and global issues with innovative solutions, the facility looks to transform how students leave an individualized impact.

“The new home for social impact will be the breeding ground for convening, catalyzing and channeling student energy and enterprise,” said Jerry Hildebrand, director.“[It will allow us] to provide hands-on expertise and experience for students to become successful pioneers.”

Social impact’s residence on the third floor will coincide with state-of-the-art multimedia resources, design thinking as well as one-on-one pairing with mentors and coaches.By combining these elements and more, Hildebrand’s team foresees an unmistakable movement toward social entrepreneurship and awareness.

“The lab will be the gateway to introduce Lynn to the vision of seeing business as a force for good,” said Hildebrand. “It heightens the opportunity for students to use their talents, learn new skills and become changemakers.”

Accompanying the move onto the third floor is a full-fledged game plan centered on furthering the goals of social impact.Students will have the opportunity to hear from guest speakers and other events that showcase the intentional focus on empowering individuals to become leaders in the 21st century.

Those interested in joining alongside Hildebrand and his team in Social Impact Lab can find them in their new home in the university center later this month.As the term progresses, individuals can expect additional information on the department’s upcoming events.

Shawn Johnson

Shawn Johnson, member of the 3.0 accelerated degree program, is a sophomore. Having grown up in Birmingham, Ala., Johnson established an unwavering love for college athletics in his youth. Wanting to connect his love for sports with his passion for writing, he has identified sports journalism as the ultimate goal of his academic endeavors at Lynn. As such, Johnson is a multimedia journalism major. Within his collegiate interests, he hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Fighting Knight and current ESPN reporter Lisa Kerney. Outside of iPulse, he was a contributing writer for the Palm Beach Post as well. In his second year, there is still much more in the tank for his career preparation at Lynn. All the while, he is immensely proud of the Alabama Crimson Tide for recently winning their 17th overall national championship. Thankful for the opportunities he has received thus far, Johnson is eager to grow alongside his peers in the College of Communication and Design.